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| April 2009 THIRD THURSDAY: Hike the Green Swamp |
April 16, 2009 was a beautiful evening, perfect for exploring one of
Brunswick County's natural resources, the Green Swamp Preserve.
Naturalist Sara Over of The Nature Conservancy led an intrepid
Brunswick County's natural resources, the Green Swamp Preserve.
Naturalist Sara Over of The Nature Conservancy led an intrepid
group of hikers on a fascinating tour
of this amazing ecosystem.
Before we set out, Sara explained
that one of the biggest problems in
the swamp today is poachers. Not
animal poachers, but plant poachers,
specifically those who go in and dig
up the rare Venus Flytrap. Did you
know that the Cape Fear region is the
only place in the world where this
plant grows in the wild? Poaching is
a huge problem; wildlife officers had
recovered a large number of plants
just that day, which Sara showed us
(they were to be replanted the next
day.)
of this amazing ecosystem.
Before we set out, Sara explained
that one of the biggest problems in
the swamp today is poachers. Not
animal poachers, but plant poachers,
specifically those who go in and dig
up the rare Venus Flytrap. Did you
know that the Cape Fear region is the
only place in the world where this
plant grows in the wild? Poaching is
a huge problem; wildlife officers had
recovered a large number of plants
just that day, which Sara showed us
(they were to be replanted the next
day.)
| The head of the trail; starting off on the hike. |
Now, I have lived in Brunswick County for
over ten years, and I have to be honest...I've
never given too much thought to the Green
Swamp, other than as a place to drive
through as quickly as possible on my way to
I-74. If anything, I assumed it was, well...a
swamp. Muddy, mucky, and generally icky.
Not at all! Granted, we've had a bit of a dry
spell lately, but the Green Swamp Preserve
is by and large a beautiful place, with a huge
variety of plants and animals. The trail (we
embarked on our hike at the parking area on
211, 5 miles from Highway 17) was dry and
clearly blazed with bright red markers, and
there is a sturdy and well-maintained
walkway through the parts that tend towards
muddy.
The swamp is also home to just a
few of our area's most famous
residents, the endangered
red-cockaded woodpecker. We got
a look at the one nest visible from
the trail (below); the tree is easily
identifiable by the shiny, sticky
few of our area's most famous
residents, the endangered
red-cockaded woodpecker. We got
a look at the one nest visible from
the trail (below); the tree is easily
identifiable by the shiny, sticky
The Green Swamp contains at least 14
different species of insectivorous plants. In
addition to the Venus flytrap, you can find
sundew, and four species of pitcher plant
(like the ones pictured at left). We also
saw scores of wild blueberry bushes,
including one growing right out of a stump!
Ellen Dorsett for one was thrilled to find
both purple and yellow butterworts (also
carnivorous), while Max Iapalucci was
fixated on the pixie moss (I'm pretty sure he
was on the lookout for real pixies.) Pixie
moss is yet another rare plant that you can
only find on the Southeast Coastal Plain....I
had no idea that we live in such an
ecologically unique and fascinating place!
Top: Pitcher plants in full bloom;
Middle: Wild blueberry growing out of a stump;
Bottom: Max gets up close and personal with some
pixie moss.
different species of insectivorous plants. In
addition to the Venus flytrap, you can find
sundew, and four species of pitcher plant
(like the ones pictured at left). We also
saw scores of wild blueberry bushes,
including one growing right out of a stump!
Ellen Dorsett for one was thrilled to find
both purple and yellow butterworts (also
carnivorous), while Max Iapalucci was
fixated on the pixie moss (I'm pretty sure he
was on the lookout for real pixies.) Pixie
moss is yet another rare plant that you can
only find on the Southeast Coastal Plain....I
had no idea that we live in such an
ecologically unique and fascinating place!
Top: Pitcher plants in full bloom;
Middle: Wild blueberry growing out of a stump;
Bottom: Max gets up close and personal with some
pixie moss.
coating of resin around the cavity
that keeps eggs and young safe from
predators such as ants, squirrels,
and snakes.
The Green Swamp Preserve is
owned and maintained by The
Nature Conservancy. Their biggest
job in the preserve is regular
controlled burns, necessary to clear
undergrowth in the pine savannas to
allow new long-leaf pines room to
grow, and to provide the high
temperatures necessary to propagate
the pond pines. The pine savanna
we hiked through (top right) was
burned in January 2009, and tiny
new long-leaf pines were visible
all along the trail (bottom right).
If you weren't able to join us for the
hike, I hope you will make some
time to go explore the preserve on
your own. It's truly an
that keeps eggs and young safe from
predators such as ants, squirrels,
and snakes.
The Green Swamp Preserve is
owned and maintained by The
Nature Conservancy. Their biggest
job in the preserve is regular
controlled burns, necessary to clear
undergrowth in the pine savannas to
allow new long-leaf pines room to
grow, and to provide the high
temperatures necessary to propagate
the pond pines. The pine savanna
we hiked through (top right) was
burned in January 2009, and tiny
new long-leaf pines were visible
all along the trail (bottom right).
If you weren't able to join us for the
hike, I hope you will make some
time to go explore the preserve on
your own. It's truly an
under-appreciated gem, right here in our own back yard.
Thank you, Sara, for a fun and educational hike!!
Thank you, Sara, for a fun and educational hike!!